Col CK Nayudu award for Kirmani

Former stumper chosen for life-time achievement honour

 Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Syed Kirmani has become the fourth cricketer from Karnataka to receive BCCI’s prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Awards Committee, which met on Thursday at Cricket Centre in Mumbai, unanimously nominated Kirmani for the award for the year 2015. The committee consisted of BCCI President Shashank Manohar, Secretary Anurag Thakur and N Ram, former Editor-in-chief of The Hindu Group.

The award -- instituted in the name of Col Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu, the country’s first Test captain -- is given to individuals for their unparalleled contribution to Indian cricket, on and off the field.

The award carries a trophy, citation and cheque for Rs 25 lakh.
Kirmani, who made his Test debut in 1976 against New Zealand, kept wickets against India’s famous spin quartet and did the job remarkably well.

Having started his career as an understudy to Farokh Engineer, Kirmani took over the responsibility and added his charm to the role in a decade-long career.

Not only is he arguably India’s best wicketkeeper ever, he was a tenacious batsman that saw him score two Test centuries in the lower order.

Against England in 1981–82, he did not concede a single bye in three consecutive Tests.
A World Cup-winning player in 1983, Kirmani finished with 198 (160 catches and 38 stumpings) dismissals from 88 Tests. He was no mug with the bat either, finishing his career with 2759 runs, which included two hundreds and 12 half-centuries, at an average of just over 27.

Among his memorable innings, the right-hander shared an unbeaten 126 runs partnership with Kapil Dev against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup as the Indian captain went on to script one of the country’s greatest wins at Tunbridge Wells.

Kirmani also provided solid support to Sunil Gavaskar in the unbroken 143-run stand for the ninth wicket as Gavaskar made 236 not out, the then top score by an Indian against West Indies in the sixth Test in Chennai in 1983.

A recipient of Padma Shri award in 1982, Kirmani also served as the chairman of the senior national selection committee.